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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Steven Wright throws a warm up pitch while playing against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of a spring training baseball game in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)

BOSTON — Steven Wright, the knuckleballer who was in big-league camp with the Red Sox this spring, had his start at Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday scratched as a precaution because of Joel Hanrahan's right hamstring injury.

"If we had a short start and we need to add some length to the bullpen, that was the reason for that," manager John Farrell said Monday.

The Red Sox want to see how Hanrahan comes out of a two-day rest period for his hamstring, but they're hopeful Hanrahan won't have to go to the DL.

"I don't think we'd be completely opposed to bringing him here," Farrell said of Wright. "What the role, not just as a reliever, the ability to go multiple innings, if that comes into play, that would be more to his capabilities. Then with Joel's situation, with today is day two of what we felt, that two-day recovery period with the hamstring was needed, we're not at the point of making a roster change or DL'ing him."

Wright, 28 and in his seventh pro season, has not been to the majors but is on Boston's 40-man roster — a 40-man roster that doesn't have many relief options left. He was made a starter in 2011, but Wright has been a reliever in the past. From 2009-10, he made 86 appearances in the Indians' minor-league system, all but eight in relief. The Sox traded for Wright at the deadline in 2012.

This season, Wright's let up three runs and no home runs in 10 innings and two starts. He's struck out 11, walked seven and given up six hits.